Gymnasts get home of their own

Gymnasts get home of their own

Aspire Gymnastics, which opened in March operating out of area school gyms, has moved to a location of its own on the South Service Road. Hanging out on the equipment are, from left, Shelby Pegg, Lilly sipos, Emma Gilchrist, Ciara Blew and Julia Scott.
submitted photo

When Abby Forster-Smith began offering gymnastics lessons at local schools, she didn’t think that within a few months she would have her very own gymnasium.

But that’s what happened just seven months after the English native began teaching the sport. Forster-Smith recently opened Aspire Gymnastics on the South Service Road in Grimsby. After coaching in Welland for a few years, Forster-Smith noticed a lack of offerings by way of gymnastics in the Grimsby area.

“There was nothing in the area,” she said. “I think this is a great thing for the kids to have.”

She began offering recreational classes in March out of school gyms. She soon saw the need for an actual gymnastics facility, and when a spot became free on the Service Road, she jumped at the chance and within 10 days transformed the former warehouse into a 3,600 square-foot gymnasium. Membership at Aspire has already grown to more than 100.

Forster-Smith offers recreational classes for those as young as toddlers right up to the teenage years. Amog the programs offered are parent and tot, kindergym, recreational and advanced. She hopes to eventually start training competitive gymnasts, which she has done for the past decade.

“My goal for next year is to build a competitive group,” said Forster-Smith. “And build from there.”

Building seems to be a theme for the business, which started with just 40 youth.

“I was over the moon when we hit 75,” said Forster-Smith. “We get people calling all the time.”

Aspire Gymnastics is located at 183 South Service Road, Unit C, Grimsby. For information call 289-808-6257 or email info@aspiregymnastics.ca. Information on classes and fees can be found at www.aspiregymnastics.ca.